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A
Brief Introduction to Manito History

Settlers came to the Manito area as early as 1838 or 1839.
Probably the earliest known settler was William Herron who settled
just east of the village on Hickory Grove Road. He emigrated from
Ohio to Mackinaw in Tazewell County and finally to Mason County
where he settled on the edge of Black Oak Grove, as the village of
Manito was then known His spinster sister kept house for her
bachelor brother until his death. He was buried on the farm where
he lived, but the exact spot is not known. Perhaps the words of the
poet describes it best:

“Not in the churchyard's hallowed ground,

Where marble columns rise around,

By willow or by cypress shade,

Are thy poor mortal relics laid.

Thou sleepest here, all, all alone-

No other grave is near thine own.

‘Tis well, ‘tis well, but oh, such fate

Seems very, very desolate.”

Stephen W. Porter, with his wife, came to the area about the
same time as Herron and settled on the edge of the “pond” which was
in the village limits. Porter, being a nephew of Herron’s, also
came from Mackinaw, Illinois.

The village of Manito was surveyed and platted by James K. Cox,
Robert M. Cox, and William A Langston in 1858. One hundred and ten
acres were laid out in blocks, streets, and alleys. Manito is
located in Section Twenty-one, Township Twenty-three North, Range
Six West, Mason County, Illinois. A part of Broadway Street was
reserved for the use of the Illinois River Railroad Company and such
a portion of street as needed for depot.

Several small communities contributed to the growth of Manito,
namely, Egypt Station, Spring Lake and Durang. Even though Egypt
Station had the post office, Manito got the location of the depot
and that immediately ended Egypt Station. Spring Lake furnished
both businesses and citizens for the new village. Durang, a
settlement across the county line from Spring Lake furnished some of
the homes for Manito. There are 2 known buildings still being used
in Manito today that were moved in from Durang.

When the village was incorporated, the first Board of Trustees
were: R.S. Eakin, President; Joe W. Brooks, Treasurer; Joe Cranwill,
Clerk; Smith Mosher and E. W. Crispell. Stephen W. Porter was the
first Police Magistrate.

A petition was presented to the Post Office Department asking
that the post office be removed from Egypt Station to Manito. The
petition was granted and Smith Mosher was appointed postmaster.

Manito is now a progressive community with a population of
1,869. The cost of running in 1886 was $500 as compared to $346,963
in 1982. Manito’s growth can be measured as we go down the list of
utilities as they came to the community: 1888-telephone;
1908-electricity; 1937-water; 1964-natural gas; 1973-sanitary
sewers; 1980 Cable TV.

The first telephone in the area was a private line from J. A.
Marshall’s place of business to his home. On August 6, 1888,
Central Union Telephone was granted right of way to erect poles and
service into the village. In 1882, public telephone service was
initiated by a privately owned company, after which, the
Turnew-Hudnut built its first telephone plant with H.G. Cox as
manager. In 1906, the business was sold to Citizens’ Telephone
Company. In 1914, the main switching equipment was destroyed by
fire. A fireproof building was built at a cost of more than
$3,000. In 1926, the Citizens’ Telephone Company was sold to Middle
States Telephone. The service now included 5,000 subscribers as
compared to 65 in 1906 when the company was sold to the Citizens’
Telephone Company. In 1958, the equipment was converted to the dial
system-Mayor Ernest Beebe making the first call to Forest City Mayor
Vernon Langston. Middle States Telephone merged with Central
Telephone Company of Illinois in 1967. A new telephone building, on
the corner of Washington Street and Main Street was built in 1968.

Wooden sidewalks were built during the summer of 1879. These
were described as “two 12" plank with 6" plank in center with cross
piece 2x4 laid flat ways on the ground. The cost was 49 cents per
rod with 46 rods being laid at that time. More were built during
the following years. In October of 1889, the Board passed an
ordinance that the citizens make their own sidewalks. In 1891, a
sidewalk “these were to 5'4" wide and made out of inch stuff”.
Later brick sidewalks were built, a few of these still exist. In
1909, an ordinance was adopted that only concrete walks would be
permitted.

The first mention of a street commissioner was made in 1881.
It seems in those early years, residents were required to work on
the streets for in 1880, the clerk was instructed to “make a list of
person subject to road labor”. In 1884, the trustees and clerk were
exempt from street labor for that year. Hay and straw was bought to
put on the village streets, with the purchasing of 14 loads at 50
cents a load. This was in 1888. Also in the early days the street
lights were gas and it was necessary to have a lamplighter. Often,
it was the job of the night watchman. The Board instructed the
police in July of 1912 to give notice to those pasturing stock on
the streets to keep them up or the owners would be subject to a
fine.

Fire protection is nothing new to the area. In January of
1882, a chimney and clue inspector was appointed. In 1890, ladders
and buckets were ordered. Racks for the ladders were made in May,
1891 and watering troughs were made and placed in “conspicuous
places” one for each town pump. In 1902, the Village purchased from
the Waterus Gasoline Fire Engine Co. A $1,400 outfit which consisted
of 1 gasoline fire engine, one hose cart, 500 feet of hose and
attachments. The engine seemed to be of poor quality and after
several years of struggle, it was sold in 1906 for $10 as scrap
iron. J.A. Marshall was given a contract in April of 1906 to keep
the fire engine in good repair and to run it at least once a week
for which he received $100 a month. In November of 1934, the Fire
Department was reorganized and during the following years different
typed of new equipment was purchased. On October 7, 1958, all the
equipment of the Manito Fire Department was turned over to the newly
formed Forman Fire Dept.

Every progressive community need street lights. Manito
purchased 3 gas lamps in 1886 from the city of Pekin for $4 each and
were placed in the “public square”. The trustees later purchased 4
more to be placed in “dark” places in the village. At this time it
was the duty of the town constable to light and extinguish the
lights. In May of 1901, a separate lamplighter was appointed at $12
per month. Miller and Smith were given a franchise to erect an
electric light plant in September of 1907. In April of 1908, the
village board voted for the village to purchase and install an
electric light plant. The old street lamps were sold for $2 each.
Fred Reed was hired to operate the light plant daily from 4 p.m.
until 11:30 p.m. It was necessary to relocated the plant in 1913
and the calaboose lot was selected. In 1915, the light plant ran
each Tuesday and Wednesday for one half day for ironing. These
ironing days were started again in March of 1918. W.S. (Tad) Beebe
was the Supt. Until the municipal light plant closed in April of
1925, and the Central Illinois Light Company took over, which gave
the village continuous service. A franchise with Cilco in July of
1957 resulted in new mercury vapor lights.

The earliest water system in Manito was probably the town
pumps. Two are mentions-one at Marshalls and one at the Smith-Hippin
elevator. An application was made to Federal Emergency
Administration of Public Works for a loan and grant to construct a
complete water works system. This was in Sept. of 1935 and on May
28, 1937, the contract was let. William Hilst was appointed Supt.
Of Water Works. In May of 1943, C.A. Beebe was made Supt. of Water
Works with Dan Jenkins appointed in Feb. Of 1963. Since Feb. 1977,
Calvin Willard has been the Street, Water and Sewer Supt. During
the decade of the 70's, a sewer system was installed.

In 125 years, Manito has come from gas street lights to mercury
vapor lights; from town pumps to a modern water system, from ladders
and buckets to modern fire protection; What will the next 125 years
bring?

(The Historical Society thanks Mrs. Winnefred Willard for
researching village records for the information in the preceding
article. Some information on the telephone from Central Illinois
Telephone.